Day signaling system.



No. 7|6,402. v Patented Dec. 23, I902.

B. A. FISKE.

DAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application filed Feb. 7. 1901.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Mndel.)

Inventor &/ i /S Attys W1tnesses V THE NORRIS PETERS co PHOYO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, u. c

Patented Dec. 23, I902.

N0. 7IB,402.

B. A. FISKE.

DAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application filed F sh. 7. 1901.

4 Shoats8heet 2.

(No Model.)

Inventor Attys.

Wltn asses f,

m5 "cums FEYERS co, PNOTOUTHOU msumorbw, u. c

No. 716,402. Patented Dec. 23, I902. B. A. FISKE.

DAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application filed Fab. 7, 1901.)

(No mean.

4 Sheets-Sheet a.

c0000 ooaoooo Witnesses G vent'or No. 715,402. Patented Dec. 23, I902. B. A. FISKE.

DAYSIGNALING SYSTEM.

(Application filed Feb. 7. 1901.)

4 Sheets-Shaet 4.

(N0.Model.)

Witnesses Urrn STATES Arniwr OFFICE.

BRADLEY ALLAN FISKE, OF NEl/V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE WEST- ERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DAY SIGNALING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 716,402, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed February 7, 1901. Serial No. 46.328. 1% model.

ing of the semaphore-arms, as well as to devise and produce a suitable controlling mechanism for properly operating the semaphorearms, whereby one or more sets of the arms may by a single movement of a controllinglever be moved to the desired positions to correspond to the intended signal. My improved day signaling apparatus in its preferred form is also capable of transmitting signals by the Ardois system, whereby two characters of signals are transmitted, one kind. being distinguished from the other by the fact that one of the sets of semaphores instead of being allowed to remain in a fixed set position will be vibrated successively between that position and the normal to correspond with the flickering of one of the lights in the Ardois night signaling apparatus.

The scope of the invention and the advantages derived therefrom will appear from the following description and claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a mast or signaling-pole equipped with four sets of semaphore-arms arranged one above the other; Fig. 2, an enlarged section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking downward, showing one of the sets of semaphore-arms in plan; Fig. 3, an elevation of one of the sets of semaphore-arms looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a front elevation of the controlling mechanism; Fig. 5, a side view thereof; Fig. 6, a section on the line (5 6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4.; and Fig.

8, an elevation of the swinging disk-carrying frame, showing particularly the dial and pointer.

In all of the above views corresponding parts are represented by the same characters of reference.

A mast or signaling-pole 1 is equipped with several sets or pairs of semaphore-arms 2 3, four of such sets being preferably used. Each semaphore-arm comprises a light steel frame 4 with a filling of canvas 5 laced or otherwise secured in position and preferably painted black. Obviously the semaphore-arms may be differently constructed. The frame .4 of each arm is carried on a rectangular spider-like casting 6, mounted on a shaft 7 and capable of independent rotation thereon. A spring 8 connects each casting 6 with a split collar 9, clamped to the shaft, whereby each semaphore-arm will be adjustable longitudinally of the shaft, so as to occupy any convenient position thereon. For use on shipboard the position of shrouds, stays, &c., may sometimes make it necessary to secure the collar 9 for each semaphore-arm near the end of the shaft 7, as shown, or nearer inward toward the mast. By connecting each semaphore-arm with its shaft 7 by anintermediate yieldingconnection thesemaphore-arm will be permitted to move independently of the shaft when movement of the shaft is suddenly arrested in the operation, as will be obvious. Each shaft 7 is mounted in bearings 10, cast with a plate 11, which plate is clamped against the mast by means of straps 12, blocks 13, of the proper shape, be-

ing interposed between the plate 11 and the mast before the former is clamped in place. Each shaft carries an arresting-stop 14. thereon, adapted to engage the plate 11 when the shaft is returned to its normal position to thereby bring the semaphore-arms in line parallel with the mast. For this purpose a retractile spring 15 is coiled around each shaft, its ends being connected, respectively, to the plate 11 and stop 14..

In order to operate the semaphore-arms, each shaft is provided with a lever 16 thereon, which may be moved downward through angles of forty-five degrees and ninety degrees,

respectively, to bring the semaphore-arms from their normal position to an intermediate inclined position or to a horizontal position. The levers 16 of each set of semaphore-arms are connected, as shown, to operating rods, chains, or wires 17, 18, 19, and 20, respectively, whereby by pulling downward on any one of said wires the semaphore-arms of the corresponding set will be moved to either signaling position. The means whereby these operating-wires are properly actuated to move the desired sets of semaphore-arms to the intended signaling position are shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, to which attention is now directed.

Mounted on the deck or at any other place, preferably adjacent to the mast 1, on a suitable supporting standard, is a frame 21. Mounted in the frame 21 and adapted to be moved vertically therein are several slides 22, two of such slides being employed for operating each set of semaphore-arms. When, therefore, four sets of such arms are used, eight slides will be mounted in the frame side by side, as shown, each adapted to be moved vertically. For convenience in further description I have designated the eight slides by the reference-letters a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h, respectively, in Fig. 4. The slides c, e, and g are connected directly with the operating-wires 18, 19, and 20, as shown. The slides d, f, and h are each provided at their upper ends with a right-angled extension 23, bearing uponthe top of the adjacent slide of the pair, whereby the several controlling- Wires will be drawn downward by operating either of the slides of each set. The slides a and b are longer than the other slides, but they cooperate in the same way. The slide at atits upper part is made tubular, and the controlling-wire 17 extends within the same and is connected at its lower end with a handle 24, which handle works in a slot 25, having an inturned upwardly-inclining extension 26 at its bottom. Normally the handle 24 is received in' the extension 26, so that upon depressing either the slide a or b the controllingwire 17 will be correspondingly moved downward. By swinging the handle 24 to one side, so as to bring it out of the extension 26, the handle may be moved up and down in the slot 25 to elevate and depress the controllingwire 17, whereby the upper set of semaphorearms will be successively moved between their set and normal positions when my apparatus is employed for the transmission of signals in accordance with the Ardois system, as will be explained.

Mounted behind each of the slides 22 and capable of vertical movement in the frame 21 is a rack 27. Suitable means are provided for operating these racks, so that the racks which correspond to and areimmediately behind the slides a, c, e, and 9 will partake of double the movement of the other racks. For this purpose I prefer to employ two shafts 28 and 29, mounted in bearings carried by the frame 21, the shaft 28 being provided with a series of spur-gears 30, which mesh with the racks corresponding to the slides a, c, e, and g, and the shaft 29 being provided with spurgears 31, of one-half the diameter, and which mesh with the other racks. Keyed on either extremity of the shaft 28 is a sprocket-wheel 32, from which extends a sprocket-chain 33 over a sprocket-wheel 34 on the shaft 29 and around an idler 35 to a suitable counterweight 36. If now the racks corresponding to the slides CL, 0, e, and g are moved downward to a certain extentsay twelve inches-' the spur-gears 30 will rotate the shaft 28, the sprocket-chains 33 at each side will rotate the sprockets 34, and the spur-gears 31 will depress the racks corresponding to the slides b, d, f, and h to half the extent, or in the supposed case six inches. Upon releasing the downward stress the effect of the counterweight is to return the parts to their normal positions. It becomes, therefore, only necessary to provide means for connecting either slide of any one or more pairs thereof to the racks which reciprocate behind them to enable the operator to move any one or more of the sets of semaphore-arms to either of their signaling positions, whereby any desired combination representing the intended character will be secured. To effect this result, I mount a dog or pawl 37 in each of the slides (see Figs. 6 and 7) and which may be moved horizontally to engage an opening 38 in the corresponding rack. Preferably each dog is provided with an inclined head, as shown, the opening 38 being similarly formed, so that the dog will remain in engagement with the opening during the downward movement of the rack to correspondingly depress the slide. Each dog or pawl is normally maintained in a retracted position by a leafspring 39, the upper end of which engages an opening in the dogor pawl, asshown. When the racks are moved downward to depress one or more of the slides and the downward movement of the racks is suddenly arrested, overthrow,due to the momentum of the slides and the parts operated thereby, might carry the slides still farther downward to permit the dog or pawl to be withdrawn, thus allowing the slide to return to its normal position, so that the semaphore-arms would not remain set for the signal. To prevent this, I make use of two locking-bars 40 and 41, each provided with projections or cams 42, against which the respective springs 39 slide. The springs 39 on the slides 19, d, f, and 72, move downward in the supposed case onlysixinches, and these springs therefore cooperate with the projections or cams 42 on the locking-bar 40. The springs on the slides a, c, e, and g, on the other hand, partake of a vertical movement in the supposed case of twelve inches, and they therefore work between the cams or projections 42 on the locking-bar 40 and c0- operate with the similar cams or projections on the locking-bar 41. Obviously the bar 41 may be continuous, as it need not be cut away largely, if not wholly, released, so that there will be no tendency on the part of the dogs or pawls to return to their normal positions even if by overthrow the slides move downward after the movement of the racks has been arrested. Obviously the dogs or pawls may be moved into their engaging positions by successive hand operations; but they are preferably selected automaticallyand moved simultaneously in the desired arrangement to efiect the operation of the semaphore-arms which are to be moved. I therefore, preferably, pivot a swinging operating-lever 43 opposite each of the dogs or pawls and provide it with a vertically-elongated tooth 44 for engaging with the end of the dog to move the latterhorizontally. By extending each of the teeth 44 vertically, as explained, the several dogs will be operated even if through lost motion or other causes they fail to return to their full normal positions, as will be obvious.

Carried in swinging arms 45 from the frame 21 is a shaft 46, provided at one end with a milled head 47, by which the shaft may be turned. Fixed to the shaft are eight actuating-disks48,having peripheralteeth 49,adapted to register with a tooth or projection on the several operating-levers 43. Carried by one of the swinging arms 45 is a dial or index 51, having, as shown, preferably, two sets of characters or signals thereon, and fast to the shaft 46 is a pointer 52, working over the face of said dial. On the other end of the shaft I preferably mount a star-wheel 53, with which cooperates a spring-pressed pawl 54, carried by the frame 21. The teeth 49 of the several actuating-disks 48 are so arranged that when the shaft 46 is moved to bring the pointer 52 into coincidence with any point on the dial one or more of the disks will present teeth opposite the projections 50 on such of the operating-levers 43 as may correspond to the pawls 37 on those slides the movements of which control the operation of the necessary semaphore-arms to result in the setting of the desired signal.

The racks corresponding to the slides a, c, e, and g are preferably operated by being connected at their bottoms by a bar 55, operated by a lever 56, actuated by the foot or hand of the operator, butobviously other means may be employed for operating either set of the racks.

The operation of my improved signaling apparatus, as shown in the Ardois system to be used, will be as follows: The shaft 46 is turned to bring the pointer 52 to the desired letter or character in the outer circle of the dial. This results in certain of the actuating-disks 4S presenting teeth opposite to the projections 50 on such of the operating-levers 43 as it may be desired to actuate, the

other disks presenting spaces or cut-away portions opposite to the projections 50 on the corresponding operating-levers. The arms 45 are now swunginward to swing the proper operating-levers 43, and thereby move the corresponding dogs or pawls 37 horizontally. The lever 56 is now actuated, depressing the racks corresponding to the slides a, c, c, and g to the full extent-in the present instance twelve inches-and depressing the other racks to half that extent. This movement of the several racks will pull downward such of the slides the dogs or pawls of which may have been actuated. If, for example, the dogs or pawls on the slides a, d, and h were thus actuated, the operation of the lever would result in the slide a being moved downward to its full extent, thereby moving the semaphore-arms of the uppermost set to a horizontal position and in the moving downward of the slides d and 71 to half that extent, since the dogs or pawls of those slides will be intel-locked with the racks which are actuated by the spur-gears 31, and in consequence the semaphore-arms of the first and second sets will each be moved to their intermediate or oblique position. If instead of transmitting a signal or character contained in the outer circle of the dial it is desired to transmit the corresponding signal of the inner circle, the same operation already described will be effected; but after the semaphore-arms have been moved to their set position the handle 24 will be swung to one side, so as to become disengaged from the extension 26 of the slot 25, and said handle will then be moved up and down by the operator in the slot 25 to move the semaphore-arms of the uppermost set back and forth between theirnormal and set posit-ions, thereby giving to the receiver notice that the signal being transmitted corresponds with that indicated on the inner circle of the dial.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms, of a series of slides connected thereto, mechanism adjacent to said slides to which reciprocating motion may be given, and means for connecting one or more of said slides to said mechanism, whereby when said mechanism is reciprocated, the slides connected therewith will be reciprocated and the corresponding semaphore arm or ams will be operated, sub stantially as set forth.

2. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms, of a series of slides connected to said arms, a series of racks working adjacent to said slides, means for reciprocating the racks, and a pawl or dog on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding rack, substantially as set forth.

3. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms,

IIO

of a series of slides connected -to said arms, a series of racks working adjacent to said slides, means for reciprocating the racks, a pawl or dog on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding rack, and a pivoted lever cooperating with each of said dogs or pawls, substantially as set forth.

4. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms, of a series of slides connected to said arms, a series of racks working adjacent to said slides, means for reciprocating the racks, a pawl or dog on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding rack, and a pivoted lever having an extended tooth or projection cooperating with each of said dogs or pawls and means for actuating said lever, substantially as set forth.

5. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms, of a series of slides connected to said arms, a series of racks working adjacent to said slides,

- means for reciprocating the racks, a pawl or dog on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding rack, and a series of disks having toothed peripheries for operating said dogs or pawls, substantially as set forth.

6. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms, of a series of slides connected to said arms, a series of racks working adjacent to said slides, means for reciprocating the racks, a pawl or dog on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding rack, a series of disks having toothed peripheries for operating said dogs or pawls, and a swinging frame carrying said toothed disks, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms, of a series of slides connected to said arms, a series of racks working adjacent to said slides,

means for reciprocating the racks, a pawl or' dog on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding rack, a series of disks having toothed peripheries for operating said dogs or pawls, a swinging frame carrying said toothed disks, a star-wheel rotating with the disks, and a pawl engaging said starwheel, substantially-as set forth.

8. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with several sets of semaphore-arms, of a series of slides connected to said arms, a series of racks working adjacent to said slides, means for reciprocating the racks, a pawl or dog on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding rack, a series of disks having toothed peripheries for operating said dogs or pawls, a stationary dial, and a pointer movable with the toothed disks and cooperating with said dial, substantially as set forth.

9. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with a series of sets of semaphore arms, of a slide connected to each set, secondary slides having projections engaging with the direct-connected slides, a rack mounted adjacent to each of said slides, a dog or pawl on each slide arranged to be engaged with the corresponding rack,and means for reciprocating the racks which correspond to the directconnected slides through a greater path than the other racks, substantially as set forth.

10. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with a series of sets of semaphorearms, of a slide connected to each set, secondary slides having projections engaging with the direct-connected slides, a rack mounted adjacent to each of said slides, a dog or pawl on each slide arranged to be engaged with the corresponding rack, means for reciprocating the racks which correspond to the direct-connected slides through a greater path than the other racks, a swinging frame, and a series of toothed disks for operating said dogs or pawls, substantially as set forth.

11. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with a series of sets of semaphorearms, of a slide connected to each set, secondary slides having projections engaging with the direct-connected slides, a rack mounted adjacent to each of said slides, a dog or pawl on each slide arranged to be engaged with the corresponding rack, a series of spur-gears meshing with the racks of the secondary slides, and connections between the other racks and said spur-gears whereby a reciprocating movement of the racks corresponding to the directconnected slides will result in the other racks being moved through a shorter path, substantially as set forth.

12. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with a series of sets of semaphorearms, of a slide connected to each set, secondary slides having projections engaging with the direct-connected slides, a rack mounted adjacent to each of said slides, a dog or pawl on each slide arranged t0 be engaged with the corresponding rack, a series of spur gears meshing with the racks of the secondary slides, spur-gears of larger diameter meshing with the other racks,and connections between said spur-gears, substantially as set forth.

13. In a day signaling apparatus, the combination with a series of sets of semaphorearms, of a slide connected to each set, secondary slides having projections engaging with the direct-connected slides, a rack mounted adjacent to each of said slides, a dog or pawl on each slide arranged to be engaged with the corresponding rack, a series of spur-gears meshing with the racks of the secondary slides, spur-gears of larger diameter. meshing with the other racks, sprocket-wheels on the shafts of both sets of spur gears, and a sprocket chain engaging said sprocketwheels, substantiallyas set forth.

14. In a day signaling system, the combination with a signaling device, of a slide, a handle detachably locked to said slide, and connections between said handle and the signaling device whereby the signaling device can be operated by the slide and also by said handle independently of the slide, substantially as set forth.

15. In aday signaling system, the combination with a signaling device, of a handle connected with the signal,a slotted slide in which said handle may reciprocate, means for looking the handle in the slide, and means for actuating the slide to display the signal, substantially as set forth.

16. In a signal-operating device, the combination of a series of slides mounted to reciprocate independently of each other, a series of slide-actuators corresponding thereto, and a dog or pawl on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding slideactuator, substantially as set forth.

17. In a signal-operating device, the combination of a series of slides mounted to reciprocate independently of each other, a series of slide-actuators corresponding thereto, and a dog or pawl on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding slide-actuator, said dog or pawl having an inclined head with which a similarly-shaped opening in the slide-actuator engages, substantially as set forth.

18. In a signal-operating device, the combination of a series of slides mounted to reciprocate independently of each other, a series of slide-actuators corresponding thereto, a dog or pawl on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding slide-actuator, and a series of toothed disk-wheels mounted adjacent to the dogs or pawls for operating the same, substantially as set forth.

19. In a signal-operating device, the combination of a series of slides mounted to reciprocate independently of each other, a series of slide-actuators corresponding thereto, a dog or pawl on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding slide-actuator, a series of toothed disk-wheels mounted adjacent to the dogs or pawls for operating the same, and a swinging frame carrying said toothed disks, substantially as set forth.

20. In a signal-operating device, the combination of a series of slides mounted to reciprocate independently of each other, a series of slide-actuators corresponding thereto, a dog or pawl on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding slide-actuator, a series of toothed disk-wheels mounted adjacent to the dogs or pawls for operating the same, a swinging frame carrying said toothed disks, a star-wheel rotating with the disks, and a pawl engaging said star-wheel, substantially as set forth.

21. In a signal-operating device, the combination of a series of slides mounted to re ciprocate independently of each other, a series of slide-actuators corresponding thereto, a dog or pawl on each slide adapted to be engaged with the corresponding slide-actuator,

a series of toothed disk-wheels mounted ad jacent to the dogs or pawls for operating the same, a swinging frame carrying said toothed disks, a stationary dial, and a pointer rotating with the disks cooperating with said dial, substantially as set forth.

22. In a signal-operating device, the combination of a series of slides mounted to reciprocate independently of each other, a series of slide-actuators corresponding therewith and reciprocating adjacent thereto, a dog or pawl carried by each slide and arranged to engage the corresponding slide-actuator, and means for moving certain of said slideactuators through a path of given extent and for moving the other slide-actuators through a path of shorter extent, substantially as set forth.

23. In a signal-operating device, the combination with a series of slides arranged to reciprocate independently of each other, of a series of slide-actuators corresponding to said slides and arranged to reciprocate adjacent thereto, a dog or pawl carried by each slide and adapted to engage the corresponding slide-actuator, the slide-actuators being divided into two sets, and connections between the actuators of one set and those of the other set, whereby the movement of one set to a given extent will result in the movement of the other set to a shorter extent, substantially as set forth.

24. In a signal-operating device, the combin ation with a series of slides arranged to reciprocate independently of each other, of a series of slide-actuators corresponding to the slides and arranged to reciprocate adjacent thereto, means for moving the slide-actuators, a dog or pawl carried by each slide and arranged to engage the corresponding actuator, a spring normally retracting each of said dogs or pawls, and a locking-bar with which said springs engage and by which the tension thereof will be reduced when the slides are moved to actuate the signal, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 30th day of January, 1901.

BRADLEY ALLAN FISKE.

"Witnesses:

JAS. F. COLEMAN, J NO. R. TAYLOR. 

